Covering with elastomeric component

ABSTRACT

A covering assembly including at least one flat sheet having a head end and a foot end, a covering having a foot end and a head end, an elastomeric component that is either woven into the covering or removably attached to the covering. The elastomeric component can be woven into the covering. Alternatively, the removably attached elastomeric component has at least one fastening means to attach itself to a covering and optionally to a first sheet. The elastomeric component can be either removably attached to a bedding assembly or affixed to a bedding assembly. On a preferred embodiment, the bedding assembly can be connected to a second sheet, preferably a fitted sheet, to tightly secure the bedding assembly and the sheet assembly to a bed while the elastomeric component provides additional space for a user. The bedding assembly can be removably attached to the second sheet or affixed to the second sheet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a bedding assembly and means for maintaining the bedding assembly on a bed for a user's increased comfort while in bed, to keep the bedding assembly substantially secured on the bed and to minimize time required to make or change the bedding. Patent application Ser. No. 11/488,808 filed on Jul. 17, 2006 entitled “Flat Sheet With Elastomeric Component” is hereby incorporated in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Various types and designs of bedding assembly such as sheets, comforters, blankets, bed skirts and pillow cases made from various types of materials are commonly available and known to one skilled in the art. However, none of these commonly available bedding assemblies have the qualities the present invention provides: namely, that the bedding assembly can stay tightly secured to the bed even during use in order to keep the bed as tidy as possible as well as keeping the user warm while resting and/or sleeping.

Bed covering designs and arrangements in common use have remained largely unchanged for many years, and generally involve the use of a bottom sheet to cover the mattress, a top sheet to cover a sleeper lying on the bottom sheet, and additional blankets or coverings placed above the top sheet when needed or desired. Fitted bottom sheets, with a pocket at each corner to fit around and under the mattress, are known and have become the conventional design because they are easily installed, removed, and can stay in place much more reliably than a traditional flat sheet. In the conventional approach, however, separate flat top sheets have continued to be the norm and often the flat sheet and the fitted sheet are sold as a set having the same color, design, and/or fabric.

Standard beds cannot always accommodate big and/or tall people. Oftentimes, beds are made by tucking in the extra fabric from a top sheet under the bed to create a snug feeling. This also keeps the sleeper warm and keeps the bed tidy.

One of the reasons why the sheets and/or blankets slip off a bed is due to the size of the sleeper. Another reason the sheets and/or blankets slip off a bed is due to a restless sleeper who moves around, tossing and turning during sleep. When a person is in excess of six feet tall, his or her feet tend to be very close to the foot of the bed. A traditional flat sheet which is simply tucked under the mattress causes initially a very narrow space under the sheet for a tall person's feet. Tall people tend to have larger feet requiring more room. This need for more room results in the flat sheet becoming un-tucked. While initially this can be liberating the person whose large feet are cramped in the narrow space under the flat sheet, often the person's feet become uncovered during the night. Thus the person may become chilled and have a poor night's rest. Moreover, this un-tucking of the flat sheet necessitates the re-tucking at some point, generally in the morning when the bed is made.

The present invention addresses the shortcomings of the prior art and the conflicting criteria of typical users to be more accommodating to a bigger population.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art discussed above.

One aspect of the present invention is directed to a bedding assembly including but not limited to at least one flat sheet having a head end and a foot end for covering a bed and an elastomeric component connected to the flat sheet. In addition to the flat sheet having an elastomeric component, a cover which can be a blanket and/or a comforter and/or quilts and/or any covering that is not a flat sheet and has an elastomeric component placed anywhere on the covering can be placed atop the flat sheet in order to increase the warmth and comfort level of a user while in bed.

Another aspect of the present invention is an elastomeric component extension including an elastomeric component which is either removably connected or affixed to a flat sheet and/or a conventional covering having a width to cover at least a top surface of a bed, and a connection means for connecting the elastomeric component extension to a flat sheet and/or to a covering that can be a blanket, a comforter, a quilt and/or any equivalent conventional bedding, wherein upon connection of the elastomeric component with the flat sheet and/or the covering and placement on a bed, the elastomeric component extension provides a deformable space between the bed and the sheet and/or between the sheet, the covering and the bed to provide additional leg room extending beyond the length of a bed.

In this text, the terms “comprising”, “comprise”, “comprises” and other forms of “comprise” can have the meaning ascribed to these terms in U.S. Patent Law and can mean “including”, “include”, “includes” and other forms of “include”.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out in particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which corresponding components are identified by the same reference numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, incorporated herein by reference, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a forth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention. The covering 10 comprises at least two components. The first component is a traditional covering component 12, which can be made from any traditional covering/bedding material including but not limited to cotton, silk, wool, dawn, flannel, satin, and the like. The second component is an elastomeric component 14. The elastomeric component is either woven into the covering and/or removably attached to the covering. The elastomeric component can be positioned at any location on the covering and not be limited to fit any one end of the covering and/or bed. When covering 10 is placed on a bed, the elastomeric component 14 is preferably located at the foot end of the bed. In this arrangement, when a user enters the bed, the elasticity of the elastomeric component 14 provides additional space for the user, allowing the user to stretch his/her feet beyond the length of the bed. The elastomeric component 14 according to the present invention provides additional space for a user to stretch his/her feet beyond the length of the bed without losing warmth to his/her feet.

FIG. 2 shows the second embodiment of the present invention whereby covering 10 is placed over bed 20 with the elastomeric component 14 tucked under the mattress as one would traditionally. The elastomeric component is tucked under the mattress of the bed 20 to secure covering 10, thus any bedding underneath covering 10 such as flat sheet, tightly to the bed while allowing additional space for the sleeper.

FIG. 3 shows the third embodiment of the present invention whereby a user is sleeping on top of mattress 20. User's feet 1 have stretched the covering 10 by stretching the elastomeric component 14. The covering component 12 continues to cover the remainder of the user.

FIG. 3 shows a connection point 16 between the elastomeric component 14 and the covering component 12. In one embodiment of the instant invention, elastomeric component 14 is affixed to covering 10 by at least one fastening means. Alternatively, the elastomeric component 14 can be woven into the covering component 12 to form a seamless covering. In yet another alternative, the connection could also be buttons, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, or any other connection mechanisms known to those of skill in the art. As a result, the elastomeric component 14 can be sold separately as an elastomeric extension and retrofitted to any existing sheets.

FIG. 4 shows the forth embodiment of the present invention whereby the elastomeric component 14 is a separate and independent component that can be removably attached to the covering 10. FIG. 4 also further illustrates that the elastomeric component 14 does not need to have the same length nor width of the covering 10 so long as the elastomeric component 14 has a surface large enough to install and/or secure a fastening/connecting means to connect to the covering 10.

Having thus described in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention defined by the foregoing paragraphs is not to be limited to particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 

1. A bedding assembly comprising: one covering having a head end and a foot end; and elastomeric component connected to said covering.
 2. The bedding assembly as claimed in claim 1 whereby the covering is a blanket, a quilt, a comforter or any conventional cover.
 3. The covering of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric component is connected to the covering by a fastening means.
 4. The bedding assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastening means connecting the elastomeric component to the covering comprise hook and loop fasteners, stitches, buttons or any conventional fastening means.
 5. A bedding assembly comprising: at least one covering having a head end and a foot end; and an elastomeric component woven into said covering.
 6. The bedding assembly as claimed in claim 5 whereby the elastomeric component can be positioned anywhere in the covering.
 7. The bedding assembly as claimed in claim 5 whereby the covering with an elastomeric component is optionally connected to a flat sheet.
 8. The bedding assembly as claimed in claim 7 whereby the covering with an elastomeric component connected to a flat sheet can optionally be connected to a second sheet.
 9. The sheet assembly as claimed in claim 8 whereby the second sheet is a fitted sheet.
 10. An elastomeric sheet extension assembly comprising: an elastomeric component having a width substantially covering a top surface of a bed, and at least one connecting means for connecting the elastomeric component to a covering.
 11. The elastomeric sheet extension assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the covering is a blanket, a quilt, a comforter or any conventional cover.
 12. An elastomeric sheet extension assembly comprising: an elastomeric component having a width substantially covering a top surface of a bed, and at least one connecting means for connecting the elastomeric component between a covering and a bedding assembly.
 13. The elastomeric sheet extension assembly as claimed in claim 12 whereby the bedding assembly is comprised of a cover and a flat sheet.
 14. An elastomeric sheet extension assembly comprising: an elastomeric component having a width substantially covering a top surface of a bed, at least one fastening means, connecting the elastomeric sheet extension to a bedding assembly or a bed, connecting the elastomeric sheet extension assembly to a first sheet, placing the elastomeric component atop a bed in order to create additional deformable space between the bed and the elastomeric sheet extension assembly to create additional length beyond the length of a bed.
 15. The elastomeric sheet extension assembly as claimed in claim 14 whereby the bedding assembly is a blanket.
 16. The elastomeric sheet extension as claimed in claim 15 whereby the elastomeric extension is removably connected to the first sheet.
 17. The elastomeric sheet extension as claimed in claim 15 whereby the elastomeric extension is affixed to the covering.
 18. The elastomeric sheet extension as claimed in claim 14 whereby the elastomeric sheet extension assembly is removably connected to a second sheet via a fastening means.
 19. The elastomeric sheet extension as claimed in claim 18 whereby the second sheet is a fitted sheet.
 20. The fastening means as claimed in claim 14 comprise hook and loop fasteners, stitches, buttons and any conventional fastening means. 